CELEBRATION OF THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST. Come, prepare your hearts this season... Pastor s Word INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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1 CELEBRATION OF THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST December - January 2017 Come, prepare your hearts this season... INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Pastor s Word Pastoral Letter Education/Westwood U Advent/Christmas Events January Electives/ Westwood U New Member Directory Ministry News Pastoral Acts Celebration Newsletter Published by Westwood Lutheran Church Worship Schedule: Sundays at 8:45 and 10:45 AM Wednesdays 6 PM Pastoral Staff: Tania Haber, Senior Pastor Jason Van Hunnik, Associate Pastor Kevin Farrar, Pastoral Intern Celebration Editor: Joyce Weaver, assisted by Communication Team. Celebration newsletter is available on audio cassette. Call Marilyn Nelson at to receive a copy. Pastor s Word Advent is all about GOD LISTENING to our cries, our needs, and responding with a Savior, Jesus..AND it continues to be about US listening, to God s marvelous promises that get made real in Jesus. We listen to others because we first have a God who listens to us and responds to our pleas and our prayers. We began Advent with God hearing Zechariah s prayer and, through an angel, God tells him to not be afraid, and that he will have a son named John ( the Baptist). This week, we will listen to Mary s words in the Magnificat of a radical vision for the new world God wants to usher in. Mary sings out this wonderful and disturbing promise, showing us a God who can and will transform our world! We have created many opportunities for you listen to God s promises, and to worship a God who listens to us. Come prepare your hearts for Christ s coming this season through Advent Vespers each Wednesday in a candlelit sanctuary at 6:30 PM Blue Christmas as the Adult Ed. on Dec. 11 for those grieving or caring for those in grief Beautiful worship with our children sharing story and song on Dec. 11 and our A Cappella Choir and Chamber Orchestra offering a special Advent worship on Dec. 18 See inside for more Advent and Christmas season details Christmas Eve (Saturday, Dec. 24): 11 AM, 4 PM, 8:30 PM, 10 PM Christmas Day (Sunday, Dec. 25): 10 AM New Year s Day (Sunday, Jan. 1): 10 AM

2 Pastoral Letter Written by Pastor Tania Haber Dear Friends, In this season of promise and hope, we have much to celebrate today and much to look forward to! And as always, it is a joy to be here in ministry with you! The new ministries of Messy Worship, Westwood U, the Prison/Re-Entry mentoring, are all signs of promise and hope! There is a new outreach plan (a jobs initiative for folks at Meadowbrook) that is coming together that you ll be hearing more about soon and we look to fill out our staff in some new ways so that we can continue to support the ministries, as well as continuing growth, for this next chapter. There is great momentum and we cannot slow down now! A word on staffing: Jen Mohr, our Early Childhood Director, will add a few hours to support some Elementary Ministries, while Peter Carlson Schattauer will continue as the leader for G.I.F.T. (Grades 1-5 Sunday School) through the program year. We will bring someone on board by summer, moving into fall with a full staffing complement in this department. Communications & Technology was one of the primary areas of focus set by the Council for this next year, meaning we would invest additional time and dollars here. We have just posted a full-time Director of Communications position; a new position info on website. We hope to fill some pastoral needs as well as some hours in the worship/music area with part-time people until dollars are available to get the hours needed in both of these areas. Westwood s Vision is BIG. We seek to not only make disciples within our congregation, but to be a catalyst in our community to achieve even more! Our Vision Statement also says we will seek to end poverty, eliminate inequalities that exist in our community, work for justice and advocate for healthy families. We can and are working towards this! So, what can each of us do to support this vision and sustain strong ministries? 1. We need strong year-end giving! I want to thank you for your ongoing gifts and the above-and-beyond generosity that many of you who are able, have shown. Meeting your pledge and for some, giving an additional gift, can make this a reality. 2. Our 3-year Mission Appeal concludes Dec. 31. We hope to fully meet our goal that renovated Good Shepherd Hall and other facility projects making our building greener, more accessible and welcoming. Fulfilling your commitment, or making a gift if you weren t a part of previous pledging, will allow us to continue moving forward. 3. A strong 2017 will help us address the staffing needs. While we are up from last year at this writing with the pledges that have come in, we have yet to hear from many households. Thank you for praying about your part in how we go forward as a congregation. Each of us is important in making ministry possible and working towards our vision! In this Advent season and as a new year begins, may we be a people that can celebrate God s abundance, and a place that has great hope for the future God has in store for us! Give us faith to go out with good courage.knowing that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us Amen! +Pastor Tania 2

3 Education/Westwood U Dec. 4: Bishop Mark Hanson joins us to explore the Magnificat text from Luke, our Sunday Gospel and Reader Week 5 text. Dec. 11: A Blue Christmas For many it is a reminder of family and loved ones they have lost, difficult holidays in the past, strained relationships and more. Come join us in the Westwood Room on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 9:50-10:40 AM for Blue Christmas. We will remember those challenging events in our lives, honor the love and lives that have touched ours, and renew our faith in the Christ who is yet to come. *Classes resume Sunday, Jan. 8 (see below) The smallest among us (Maggie Moran) teach us the biggest lessons. IN THIS YEAR OF LISTENING. MY NEIGHBOR IS MUSLIM 5-week series! *Come Sundays OR Wednesdays. The Wednesday repeats the previous Sunday. Sundays: Jan. 8 - Feb. 5 at 9:50 AM in Good Shepherd Hall Wednesdays: Jan. 11 Feb. 8 at 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary This past year has shown us a country and world where we are afraid of the other. There are deep misunderstandings and a tragic inability to truly LISTEN to each other. As people of faith, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility, to begin a much-needed dialog with our Muslim neighbors about Islam. Pastor Tania, together with an Imam, Samir Saikali, will lead us through the basic tenets of Islam and discussion around topics such as the What does the Qur-an say about Jesus? What does Islam teach about violence? What are the 5 pillars of the Islamic faith? And how can we advocate for justice, respect and friendship between our communities? We invite you to attend these important discussions.and bring a friend! AND. How can we talk to our unchurched friends or neighbors of another faith, when we don t fully understand our own Christian and Lutheran faith? We believe that as Christians we listen more deeply, with greater understanding and respect, when we fully understand our own identity in Jesus Christ. This goes against the prevailing notion that a deep and committed Christian identity will make us judgmental or unable to carry on meaningful and helpful conversations with others. We even see many people for whom this is true but it is not helpful. We believe there is another way. During worship in the season of Epiphany (January February), we will review some basics of the Christian faith and the Lutheran Catechism grasping more fully our own identity, so that as we study Islam and have conversations with our Muslim neighbors in the coming months, we might have the kind of strong, benevolent attitude that Brian McLaren discusses in his book, Why did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?. Join us for these important Sundays, beginning Jan. 8! And watch for a one-page hand-out each of those weeks (also in E-News and on our website) that will teach the core confession we will be looking at that week. 3

4 9001 CEDAR LAKE ROAD ST. LOUIS PARK, MN PH: FAX: WEB: NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID HOPKINS, MN PERMIT NO RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED TV & Online Listening Worship services are streamed to our website and sent to Cable TV stations Missed or want to revisit a sermon? Visit: westwoodlutheran.org/ worship-online to view a live stream of the service or to watch a previously recorded service on your computer. Blessings for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ADVENT WORSHIP: WEDNESDAYS, 6:30 PM (NOV. 30, DEC. 7, 14, 21) A beautiful time of scripture, prayer and candlelight BLUE CHRISTMAS: SUNDAY, DEC. 11, 9:50 AM A worship for healing, prayer for those who struggle with grief or pain during the holiday season CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS STORY: SUNDAY, DEC. 11, 8:45 & 10:45 AM Save the dates! Town Meeting: Sunday, Feb. 12 Annual Meeting: Sunday, Feb. 19 (between services) CHRISTMAS EVE, DEC. 24 (SATURDAY) * Four services 11 AM For families with young children and all the young at heart, this service will be full of Carols, a pastoral message, and we will place our hopes and prayers in the manger. 4 PM Sing Carols, hear the Christmas story and a message, light candles, and enjoy the musical gifts of our Worship Team and Cantemus. 8:30 & 10 PM - Lesson and Carols, a message, candle-lighting, and festive music led by our A Cappella Choir, organ, and string quartet. CHRISTMAS DAY, DEC. 25 (SUNDAY) * One service only 10 AM A peaceful and joyful Christmas morning as we celebrate Holy Communion with the A Cappella Choir, harp and carols. NEW YEAR S DAY, JAN. 1 (SUNDAY) * One service only 10 AM Join us as we ring in the New Year!

5 Children s Christmas Program On Sunday, Dec. 11, the Early Childhood and Elementary children of Westwood will share their annual Christmas Season Children s Program within regular Advent worship services. The children have been practicing music during Sunday School and G.I.F.T. and will rehearse on Saturday, Dec. 10, 9-11 AM. Children with lines in the pageant rehearse at 9 AM, all others at 10 AM. Please contact Peter Carlson Schattauer, p.schattauer@ westwood.church with any questions or to participate. Advent Lessons & Carols Worship On Sunday morning, Dec. 18 the A Cappella Choir and Chamber Orchestra will present a special service of advent readings and musical responses at both the 8:45 & 10:45 AM services. Beautiful music by Mendelssohn, Faure, Clausen, and Christiansen will be featured. New Member Class Interested in becoming a part of the Westwood family? We d love to have you! The first class of the New Year is Wednesday, Jan. 25, 6-8 PM (Community Meal and childcare offered), AND Sunday, Jan. 29, PM (lunch and childcare offered). New Members received in worship on Sunday, Feb. 5. Please register by Jan. 20. Contact: Sharon Duffy, s.duffy@westwoodlutheran.org Wednesday Advent Vespers & Messy Worship On Wednesdays Dec. 7, 14, and 21, we will offer two Wednesday evening worship services. Messy Worship At 6 PM in the Westwood Room, we will continue to have Messy Worship, a multigenerational, family-friendly worship service full of interactive prayer and ritual. Candlelight Advent Vespers At 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary, we will have Advent Vespers, a contemplative service built around song and prayer. Come join us for a time of restoration, worship, and faith formation as we await Christ s coming. Hope to see you there! Family Advent Festival Dec. 4, 9:45-10:45 AM (Good Shepherd Hall) Join us for our annual Family Advent Festival for early childhood and elementary families. Celebrate the season with worship and music, community time, and creating a family Advent keepsake. This year s keepsake is a reusable Advent calendar- a family-time project with special helper jobs for all-ages. New families are always welcome, come check out the fun! Early Childhood Sunday School will not meet during the 8:45 and 10:45 AM services this day. Jesus Birthday Party! Dec. 4, 9:45-10:45 AM (Lakeside Room). (For Babies, Toddlers and their Grown-Ups) It s time to celebrate the season, toddler style! Join us as we explore the Christmas story with sensory tables, advent crafts, Joseph s workshop, and tasty snacks with our Westwood friends. New families are always welcome, come check out the fun! Caroling On Saturday, Dec. 3 at 12 PM, all ages and families are invited to join us for a pot luck lunch, followed by caroling. The A Cappella choir began a wonderful Westwood tradition years ago, Christmas caroling for our homebound members. Last year we extended the invitation congregation-wide and will do so again this year. We ll practice a bit and then divide into groups to go out to sing and deliver Christmas Cookies to the homes and several of the senior communities where Westwood members reside. Question? Penne, , p.sewall@westwood.church or Matthew, , m.olson@westwood.church

6 My Neighbor is Muslim; (K) Sundays at 9:50 AM - Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb 5 OR Wednesdays at 6:30 pm Jan. 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8. We are living in a precarious moment in which people are increasingly fearful of "the other" and political rhetoric is used to fan the flames. We have an extraordinary opportunity, and responsibility as people of faith, to open up a much needed dialogue and build understanding about Islam. We will address questions like: What does the Qur an say about Jesus? What does Islam teach about violence? What are the 5 pillars of the Islamic faith? Imam Hassan Ali Mohamud of the Islamic Dawah Center, said this about the course, I found this to be a great educational piece which I recommend that everyone in America read and pass on to his/her neighbor to correct the misconceptions about the religion of Islam and Muslims. Wednesday Night Live Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 PM for 7th & 8th grade/ Senior High Youth 8-9:15 PM for 9-12th gr. (G) Join Westwood youth on Wednesdays in the youth room for a variety of experiences. Fun, food, and fellowship will be a pa rt of each week! A great way to make youth connections! Community Meal (L ) Wednesdays 5-7 PM (exact dates forthcoming) Westwood provides a community meal each Wednesday night that is both an internal and external outreach and fellowship opportunity. It takes lots of work to pull off a meal for 250+ people weekly, come be a pa rt of the team. Messy Worship Planning Team (L) Wednesdays 6-7:15 PM Be the leadership behind our new Wednesday Messy Worship. Bring your creativity and vision of how worship can be more interesting and approachable for all ages. Work with pastors and staff to create liturgy in your own words, interactive rituals, and prayers that connect to youth. Take your passions and help our community grow; this includes leadership roles in technology, A/V, music, drama, child development, and communications. Worship Servants (L) Training event Sunday, January 15, 9:45-10:45 AM OR 12-1 PM with service dates TBD. Become an integral part of worship life here at Westwood! We will talk about what worship means, why we do some of the things we do, and some of the roles that make us a worshipping community. We will be training in people to be ushers, communion servers, lectors, PowerPoint operators and more. Commitment involves a training event and then engaging in the area of your choice during a worship service one time per month for four months or more if you so choose! Worship Visuals (L) Tuesdays, January 10, 17, & 24 6:30-8 PM Have you ever wondered about the banners that hang in our sanctuary, or the beautiful colors that adorn the alter during the year? Are you a creative person who would love to have a hand in making the beautiful pieces that enhance our worship experience? Then this elective is for you! No experience necessary, but an affinity for crafty type things is helpful! Join us as we gather to make new Easter Worship Visuals and learn about the ways our worship is transformed by what we see with our eyes! Faith Share! (L) Training: Thursday, January 19, 7-8 PM with visit times TBD. Come make a difference in peoples lives by being a member of the Lay Visitation Team. Youth will be paired with current Lay Visitors to make visits, take communion, share stories, play games, etc. with our homebound members. Commitment involves a training evening for the youth and meeting their Lay Visitor followed by 3 visits to be scheduled with your partner and the Visitee. JANUARY ELECTIVES For full course catalog and registration link (December thru March) visit: then click on Westwood U course catalog from the sidebar menu. With questions, contact Dannica Olsen, d.olsen@westwood.church

7 Advent / Christmas / Epiphany Holiday Gifts and Giving Dec Jan W E S T W O O D L U T H E R A N C H U R C H Ministry Resource News Inside this issue: Holiday Gifts, Giving & Announcements Caring & Support Ministries Outreach Ministries CYF, Music & Choir Contacts

8 Holiday Gifts and Giving Page 2

9 Caring Ministries: westwoodlutheran.org/caring-and-support

10 Outreach Ministries: westwoodlutheran.org/outreach

11 Westwood Lutheran Church is an open, affirming and inclusive church, welcoming all who seek God. Rollie Harrington th Ave N Plymouth, MN Cell Ph: Rollie.harrington@gmail.com Rhonda Jamison Kim Moore Mark 1401 Jersey Ave S St. Louis Park, MN Ph: moorekk1@comcast.net William & Norma Odegard 3601 Wooddale Ave S St Louis Park, MN Ph: wodegaard@2z.net Gene & Nancy Olesen 2317 Wildwood Tr Minnetonka, MN Ph: golesen01@gmail.com Beth & Tim Rose Isaac & Tanner 3251 Zarthan Ave S St Louis Park, MN Ph: bethr24@gmail.com April & Seth Sonksen Alice 2901 Jersey Ave N Golden Valley, MN Ph: Faaprilhbeiter@gmail.com Mary Ann & David Thomas 8200 W 33rd St. Unit 202 St. Louis Park, MN Ph: This publication features an updated roster of Westwood s New Members. Please add it to your Pictorial Directory. *To update your contact information, call Jeff Kurtz, or visit the website under Access Westwood.